Description
Object description
British aircraftman and photographer served with Royal Air Force in GB 1933-1935; served with Photographic Section, 28 Sqdn, RAF at RAF Ambala, India, 1935-1939
Content description
REEL 1 Aspects of enlistment and training with Royal Air Force in GB, 1933-1935: reasons for enlistment in Royal Air Force; enlistment in London; parent's reaction to his enlistment; reception as recruit, 1/1933; swearing in; opinion of rations at No 1 RAF Depot, RAF Uxbridge; training for Royal Tournament show team; awareness of anti-semitism; posting to RAF Biggin Hill, 8/1933; training as photographer at School of Photography, RAF at RAF Farnborough; reaction to posting to India; hearing stories of India from returned servicemen. Aspects of voyage from GB to India aboard MV Somersetshire, 1935: recreation on board; lecture on behaviour in India.
REEL 2 Continues: toilets on board and seasickness; stowing hammocks; accommodation on board; singing; officer accommodation; reasons for losing boxing match; opinion of rations; arrival in Karachi. Recollections of period as photographer with 28 Sqdn, RAF at RAF Ambala, India, 1935-1939: troop train journey across Sind Desert; initial impressions of Indians; work as aerial photographer; training pilots in photographic techniques; army co-operation work in Waziristan on North West Frontier, 1936-1937.
REEL 3 Continues: use of Lewis Gun; aircraft used by squadron in Waziristan; presence of Indian officers in squadron; forecast of Indian independence by Indian working in processing department; attitude of British civilians; relations with Anglo-Indian civilians; visit to out-of-bounds area; barrack servants' demeanour towards British; degree of contact with British civilians; character of Anglo-Indian community; treatment of Indian officers by Royal Air Force personnel; opinion of Indian pilots' skills; discipline.
REEL 4 Continues: effectiveness of training in aerial photography; training for active service conditions; limited opportunity for contact with Indian personnel; opinion of squadron leader; Royal Air Force personnel's dedication to duties; Jawaharlal Nehru's refusal to pay landing fee at RAF Ambala; political rally at Ambala; degree of political discussion amongst Royal Air Force personnel; description of barracks and experience of earthquake; quality of rations.
REEL 5 Continues: character of rations; standard of hygiene; morning shaving; medical treatment for malaria and dysentery; prickly heat and 'Chinese rot'; relief of prickly heat in monsoon rains; cases of heat apoplexy; description of uniform and kit; outline of daily routine; relaxed discipline; meeting Indian girls; rumours of infidelity of service wives stationed in hills; Royal Air Force disapproval of mixed marriages.
REEL 6 Continues: aircraftmen's sexual activities; cures for venereal disease; recreational activities; sing songs; shooting game; Christmas celebrations; keeping pets; work of canteen contractor; further details of recreational activities; playing sport against Indians; limited opportunities for social contact with Indians.
REEL 7 Continues: sings song; friendly inter-rank relations; opinion of Royal Air Force Police; description of other ranks mess; sexual relations between single aircraftmen and service wives; leave in Murree; recreational and sporting activities in Murree; visits to bazaars; attitude to posting to RAF Ambala; employment of barrack servants.
REEL 8 Continues: verbal abuse of barrack servants; reasons for disliking Lahore; comparison of different Indian peoples; awareness of inequality of wealth; feeling amongst Indian civilians; incident of anti-British feeling; interest in Indian culture; opinion of European civilians living in India; contrast in Indians from urban and rural areas; ceremony of 'topees overboard' in Solent during return voyage to GB; duties looking after personnel effected by sun on return voyage; incident with waterborne traders in Port Said, Egypt.
REEL 9 Continues: question of British presence in India; political discussions with officers and other ranks; newspapers recieved; anticipation of Independence; conflicting purpose of British presence in India; question of partition of India; opinion of Indian National Congress and Mahatma Gandhi; occurrence of accidents during training exercises on North West Frontier.
REEL 10 Continues: joint training exercise with Royal Artillery; co-operation with army in reconnaissance capacity; training of maharajas' troops; disloyalty of Indian guards at Manzai Camp; rumours of Gurkha treatment of prisoners; method of cooling water in canvas bags; Parsee burial customs; opinion of Indian customs; sand yachting.